Lalonde’s Canadian record “something special” as she heads to Olympic final

It was another hot and humid day inside the Olympic Stadium for day three of athletics. Geneviève Lalonde used that to her advantage, bringing the heat onto the track for the women’s 3000m steeplechase as she broke the Canadian record with a time of 9:22.64.

“I’m very, very happy,” said Lalonde, who took nearly five seconds off the national mark. “Once I stepped out on the line, I knew that it was going to be something special.”

At her second Olympic Games, Lalonde added, “I’ve got so much support back home, helping me out. The Canadian public and community, I honestly feel so humbled to be able to represent them and every time I step out into the stadium; the lights come on and I’m ready to go.”

Lalonde will advance into the final on Thursday while Alycia Butterworth (9:34.24) and Regan Yee (9:41.14), who set the old Canadian record at the Olympic Trials in late June, will not advance past their Olympic debuts.

In the women’s hammer throw, Camryn Rogers didn’t waste any time, needing only her first throw to qualify for the final, throwing past the qualifying mark of 73.50, with her throw of 73.97m. Jillian Weir, throwing 68.68m, will not advance.

“I stepped into the circle for the first time and took my first [warm up] throw and just thought to myself, ‘You know what, I think it’s going to be a good day, you can do this,’” said Rogers, who is making her Olympic debut. “When you have your first throw and it’s good, it’s stable, and it’s together, it gives you that little boost of confidence.”

Christabel Nettey was on the runway for the women’s long jump, capping off her competition with a third attempt mark of 6.29m, but will not advance into the final.

Looking to follow-up on his competition-leading run from the heats, Andre De Grasse will return to the straightaway later this evening in the men’s 100m semifinal. Marco Arop will also be competing in the men’s 800m semifinal while Django Lovett looks to continue Canada’s Olympic high jump success.